Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Wednesday, Feb. 4:
Washington County barn and livestock lost in fire
A barn in New Bethlehem was destroyed by fire late Monday night,
“All of our heritage and rare breed sheep were in the barn. They were due to lamb in 12 days. They did not survive.” said Amy Manko, owner of Ross Farm Fibers, in a post on the company’swebsite.
Multiple fire crews were called to the barn around 11 p.m., according to Washington County 911 officials.
A skid loader near the barn was frozen with ice and was also destroyed.
“We lost tools, equipment and basically my history and future,” Manko said.
The barn dates back to 1911 and was built by Frank L. Ross, who wanted to create a “model farm” in the county to practice the latest methods of animal husbandry and farm design.
Manko is the fifth generation of the family to work the farm.
Additional people rescued from Bentley Towers fire
In addition to the two people who were flown by medical helicopter from Tuesday’s fire at Bentley Towers in Bentleyville, emergency crews rescued multiple people from inside the building.
Crews discovered heavy smoke on the building’s seventh floor inside an apartment. Firefighters forced the door open and quickly extinguished the fire, which was contained to the room where it began, according to Bentleyville Fire-Rescue officials.
Firefighters worked for several hours to ventilate and overhaul the scene.
There is yet no word on a cause of the fire as officials continue to investigate.
South Park police warn of scam calls
South Park police are warning residents of reports of recent scam calls.
Police said residents are being contacted by a specific number — 412-426-3870 — in which a caller claims there is an active arrest warrant against the resident for owing Allegheny County thousands of dollars, or that they are calling from the South Park Police Department or county sheriff’s office.
Officials said they never call and request money, gift cards, wire transfers or any kind of immediate payment over the phone. People who receive such calls should hang up without speaking to the caller and report the call to South Park police at 412-833-1000.